Organic cotton
Made in Britain
Weather proof

Gouthwaite Backpack - 20L

The everyday outside pack.

A dependable daypack for work, walks, and daily life. Supportive to carry, weather-resistant, and built for constant use.

Wired's top pick for durability in their "Best backpacks for work and cycling"

Handcrafted in the UK and guaranteed for life . All profits to Wildish Club.

Colour: Black

£215.00 GBP

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Details

Capacity: 18-23L Roll top
Weight: 1.1kg
Dimensions: H 50-65cm x W 30cm x D 12cm

→ GOTS organic dry-waxed canvas
→ AustriAlpin Cobra buckle closure
→ Holds a 16-inch laptop in a raised sleeve to keep it off the bottom of the bag
→ Internal pouch for valuables
→ 4 side straps with buckle closure
→ 2 side pouches
→ Recycled wool felt back padding
→ 50mm cotton shoulder straps
→ All hardwearing metal fittings
→ Removable Sternum strap
→ Meets airline carry on requirements
→ Covered by our Lifetime Warranty

Sustainability

Limited production
We feel responsible for everything we put out into the world.

That’s why we make bags in small batches, producing only what’s needed and nothing more.

Materials
Our hardwearing, weatherproof dry-waxed cotton is GOTS-certified organic, using 88% less water and 62% less energy than conventional cotton. It is made without toxic chemicals and is almost plastic-free (we use a recycled polyester thread for strength and longevity).

Wildish Club
All profits from Wildish go to Wildish Club, a non-profit building communities across the UK to help people get outside together.

WildishReMade
Our bags are made to last, but we know not every bag stays in use forever. If yours is no longer being used, we will take it back in exchange for Wildish credit worth 10% of its original value. We will then reuse and recycle the materials to make something new.

Get a free sample

Sometimes you need to feel the quality and see the colours in person. Click here to get a free sample of our organic cotton fabric.

View full details

Free shipping & returns
Free shipping on all UK orders over £100. International shipping is calculated at checkout. We cover all import taxes for EU and US orders.
Guaranteed for life
Accidents happen, and even the best materials can fail. To give you peace of mind, all our products are guaranteed to last.
Learn more
Who Cares Wins
All profits from Wildish go to Wildish Club, a non-profit building communities across the UK to help people get outside together.
Join

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I fit in this bag?

This is a hard question to answer as so many things are different shapes and sizes. However, for city use we typically take a 16" or 14" laptop and/or tablet, a large pair of headphones, a magazine, a book/notebook, a jumper, a jacket and a bottle of water (this bag comfortably fits bottles up to 75mm diameter). There's also enough space for your gym kit or a full change of clothes if you cycle to work.

For outdoor use we would typically take a jacket, a jumper, a water bottle, a small first aid kit, some snacks, a small stove, kettle and mugs.

In both these scenarios we would still have plenty of space left in the bag.

We also regularly use this bag for weekends away.

Are your bags waterproof?

Our bags are not totally waterproof, very few are. But they are pretty damn close. We spent an hour throwing them around in a waterfall and water only got in when we forgot to roll the top down...

This bag is being used all over the world, in all kinds of conditions, and it's taking it all in its stride.

Can I customise this bag?

Sometimes we can, sometimes we can't. It depends on the product. If you want to know more, send us an email and let us know what product you would like to personalise, along with what sort of personalisation you would like.

Why do you only make in small batches?

Making only what’s needed helps keep our impact as low as possible and avoids producing bags that never get used. It also allows us to focus on quality and longevity rather than volume, and to stay accountable for every bag we make.

Made by Amy, Ray & Rowan

We insist on working with great people who share our values, and our lead bag maker Amy is one of a kind.

With 20+ years of experience, she makes all our bags, with the help of a small team, from her studio in the Suffolk countryside.

Learn more

Material highlights

Our bags are made from GOTS certified organic dry-waxed cotton canvas from British Millerain in Lancashire. They have been dyeing and proofing cotton for over 100 years and this material is one of their latest creations. It has a totally dry finish (dry-waxed doesn't always mean totally), is waterproof, PFC free, and is machine washable! However, we don't recommend you wash it often.

The AustriAlpin Cobra buckle

Normally used on climbing equipment to save lives, this buckle can take the weight of a small elephant. Yes, it's overkill for a bag, but when you hear the sound it makes you will understand why we chose it.

Gouthwaite Backpack - 20L - Wildish - Made in Britain - Backpack

Design notes

When I was a kid my backpacks would always break. Often the zip would be the first thing to go and I would end up with a bag held together with string. Unlike my bags, my dads' old canvas bag seemed to never go wrong. So when it came to designing our first backpack, that bag was always at the back of my mind. For our Gouthwaite backpack, we have combined the simple & durable functionality of my dads' old bag with a modern minimalistic aesthetic. Plus it's a rolltop, so that means no zips.

Our impact

We feel personally responsible for the things we put out into the world and believe business should be a force for good.

To keep our impact low we:

→ Only make bags in small batches
→ Will repair your bag for life
→ Will recycle your bag at the end of its life
→ Make highly considered material choices

wildish club

A bit like Cubs, but for adults.

Meet people, make friends, do things.

Wildish Club started with two people (the founders of Wildish) looking for others to spend time with outside.

Now, it’s a growing community across the UK, meeting up to explore, talk, and connect, and it's funded by Wildish.

Learn more

Fair & honest pricing

After all costs this bag leaves us with a margin of £72. That margin goes into:

→ Carbon offsetting

→ Running The Wildish Club

→ Marketing

→ Good coffee

→ General running costs

Don't just take our word for it

We've been featured in some of the worlds best publications and have awesome customers who leave us reviews like the ones below.

see our press

Great bag

Great bag. Sturdy and useful. Great for packing work supplies and hiking gear alike.

A tough and functional bag that still looks great

Really pleased with my Gouthwaite bag. Used it for work where it comfortably holds my laptop and array of cables and accessories as well as notebook and water bottle as well as other essentials. I bought it more and have used it more for my aimless ambles across and around Kinder Scout in the Peak District where it easily holds all my Winter walk essentials. I can attest for its weatherproofness as I've been out in some substantial downpours and my bag contents have remained fully dry. Expanding side pockets very useful, and I can carry two walking poles in the side straps easily. The top fastening buckle does indeed make a pleasing 'clink' upon closing. Going to get a set of the cushioned shoulder straps as although the wide webbing straps are comfortable I'd like the extra cushioning for the Summer when I'll be carrying heavy water bottles. Couldn't be more happy with my new bag.

👍

Excellent. Just excellent

Gouthwaite Backpack - 18-23L

Exactly as advertised and really enjoying using it. Love the look and feel.

Lovely bag. I have some tips...

I wanted a bag that would last me at least a decade of daily use. Hard to tell after a couple of weeks, but I think I've got one. It's really, really well made, robust, feels like it will wear in and age well. It's nicely capacious; I hesitated over this and the Jorvik, but this is plenty big enough for a well-packed weekend away and all daily needs. The rust colour is lovely, not quite as bright and bold as the photos seem.

I was very glad I bought the extra padding for the shoulder straps. Without, I found them a little uncomfortable, cutting in to my armpits or just below. With, it's a very comfy carry. It does add to the price, but I found it worthwhile.

I also bought the 2.6l Ramsgill pouch, which fits very nicely in the bag (without the strap) and provides more internal organisation. And then obviously you can carry both bags together for a little more capacity, or just take the pouch on its own. If you're hesitating over this or the Jorvik, consider the Gouthwaite+Ramsgill combination.

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Gouthwaite Backpack - 20L